Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood nor do I profit from the writing of this work.
author's drabble I also have no good excuse for not updating in forever. After a certain period of time, I actually became embarrassed about not updating and thought it would be easier to ignore it. There were a few PM's, however, and some new reviews, so I wanted to finish it for the people who still cared. The chapters that finish the story were saved on my old hard drive (always back up your work!) and so I am uploading them here. Thanks for the people who messaged and reviewed! It really does warm an author's heart to know her work is read and enjoyed!
All mistakes are my own, I just wanted to get this up to finish the story. And finally, grad school sucks your life dry. There is no time to write anymore D:
Chapter 65: Family and Loyalty
Deciding to go with her plan, Marguerite took a deep breath as she dismissed the last of her serving girls. Everyone was already waiting for introductions by the time she arrived to join her father and Eleanor's brood. "Ready?" Henri asked her.
"I thought I was suppose to ask you that?" she teased her nephew.
"I have it easy," Henri grinned. "I just walk in and let everyone gawk at me. I've known Philip my whole life, it isn't frightening. You, tante, have to convince him of something he is dead-set against."
"Well, when you put it that way," Marguerite drawled. "Technically I have to convince him of two things—I told you to train with Philip," she reminded him.
"Can you ask him about that first?" Henri asked, causing several people to snicker.
Geoffrey de Plantagenet, Prince étrangèr, duc de Brittany, pair de France. (a/n: Foreign Prince, Duke of Brittany, Peer of France)William d'Owen, chevalier, Prince étrangèr, duc de Canterbury. (a/n: chevalier is an order of knighthood, Foreign Prince, duke of Canterbury)
John de Plantagenet, Prince étrangèr, seigneur d'Ireland. (a/n: foreign prince, lord of Ireland)
Richard de Plantagenet, duc d'Aquitaine, Roi d'England, pair du France. (a/n: duke of Aquitaine, King of England, peer of France)
And just like that, her father, Richard, Geoffrey, and John were announced and left her. Since the outlaws were guests of Richard, he introduced them to Philip and they were announced a few minutes later. Marguerite watched as the ever-curious court seemed to study the foreigners with avid interest.
Marguerite Jane Gabrielle de Capet-Laurent, petite fille de France, Princesse du Sang, princesse étrangère, comtesse de Flandres et Paris, suo jure duchesse de Kent, pair de France. (a/n: petite fille de france= granddaughter of France signifying she is related to a king of France; Princess of France, Foreign Princess, countess of Flanders and Paris, Duchess of kent in her own right, peer of France)
Marguerite strode in and followed her own orders she gave to Henri: head held high, looking only at her cousin and his wife. She did glance at Guy and would be glad when he didn't have to bow to her, when he would be introduced with her. "Cousin," Philip smiled as he waved Marguerite up from her curtsey. He began speaking to her in rapid French; the outlaws who couldn't follow the conversation knew from his tone he was happy to see his cousin.
"And now you bring to us the first of your brood?" Marie, Philip's wife and Queen of France, smiled happily. "It seems like he was just a petite babe not long ago. I can still remember Henri holding the little thing in his big hands."
Marguerite smiled at the memory of her brother cradling his tiny infant son. "The first of many, oui. And I have high hopes for him, cousin. Hopes you can help him to achieve."
"You agreed to let him train," Philip said happily. "Are you asking me, cousin?"
"On one condition," Marguerite agreed. "But bring him out, he probably is worried I have done something to steal attention away from him."
With a wave, the page thumped his staff and announced: Henri de Capet-Owen, chevalier, petit-fils de France, prince du sang, duc de Tours, duc de York, pair du France.
Everyone bowed low as Henri strode in, a perfect imitation of his aunt making Marguerite, Marie, and Philip smile.
Philip waved him up when Henri bowed regally before the throne. "Let me get a good look at you, aigle. I dare say when you finish growing you will be as tall as your father." (a/n: Eagle)
He was nearly there now as he had grown another few inches during the weeks on the ship and was practically as tall as Marguerite. If he did become as tall as her brother, he would be as tall as Guy.
She caught Guy's eye across the hall.
"So to answer the first question everyone is curious about: yes, I will happily take Henri under my wing," Philip announced. Henri gave a bow, expressing his gratitude. Philip waved him over to the cushion seated next to his wife, Marie, and Henri took his seat.
Philip waved and everyone seated on his right was shifted down, a cushion brought and placed next to him and he waved Marguerite to it.
"Who is on the dais?" Gretchen whispered.
"On the other side of Henri are the two Cardinals who make up part of the six royal bearers. I think they carry the cup and the banner," Much whispered.
She studied the dais a select few were sitting on and couldn't help but think everything felt different than when they were in London. There, everyone mingled. You could tell Dukes from Barons and everyone in between because of the clothes and rings they wore, but they all intermixed in the Great Hall in the London Palace.
Here, Gretchen studied, there were clear distinctions. Her servant's eye noticed that there were degrees to how everyone was treated or to what they were entitled.
And she kept coming back up to the royal dais. Two Cardinals, then Henri sitting on cushions. Then came Queen Marie on her throne and King Philip. Marguerite was placed on Philip's other side, and it clearly wasn't just because she was his cousin. Next to her was a duke she couldn't remember his name of, something-Simon. Then another Duke, and finally Richard.
She tried to remember back to what Robin had said when he first explained who Marguerite's family was.
"It was in Paris that we all saw what kind of power Marguerite's family truly had; enough to frighten a sane man and tempt the power mad. It isn't like England where any man of any title is given his due worth."
No, she could see that now. Two of the six seats were filled with Marguerite's family, and she vaguely remembered that one of the Cardinals was also a distant cousin.
Chatter continued all around as everyone gossiped, and watched the interaction of those closest to the King. "Do you think she will bring it up now?" Willa asked.
"I think she knows how to spot an opportune moment," Nora decided.
"I think she knows how to create an opportune moment," Marion smiled. She stole a glance at Prince William and Prince John talking with Alix; they were clearly discussing Guy as they kept looking at the man. (a/n: William is Marguerite's father; Alix is Eleanor's daughter with her first husband and half sister to King Philip and King Richard).
In fact, everyone kept studying Guy. It seems the entire court had figured out which man had captured Marguerite's affections.
"It seems we have things to discuss, ma fae," Philip sighed. "I find I'm bored, Cherie," he turned to Marie. "Will you join me in the parlor?"
"I wouldn't miss this for all the gold in your kingdom," Marie smiled. Marguerite wasn't sure what her cousin was anticipating.
"Come, Marguerite."
The three rose and everyone in the hall dropped into low bows and curtsies again until they had exited. Marguerite followed her cousin and wife into the marble family parlor. It had once been filled with so many family members, so many memories.
"Thank you for agreeing to foster Henri," Marguerite began as Philip led Marie to a seat and then waited for Marguerite to sit before finally sitting himself.
"He was brave enough to ask for himself. I wasn't sure you would like it, or you would wish for him to learn from Richard. What were your conditions?" he asked amused.
"That he doesn't just jump in and fight in this war brewing between you and Richard. Please, Philip, don't just rush him out to a battlefield, especially one where he will be fighting a cousin."
Philip's countenance changed, darken. "You managed to bring up the topic I least wish to discuss."
"It's a talent," Marguerite drawled.
"Fine, I do not believe Henri ready to go out on the field of battle yet anyways."
The three sat in silence, waiting for the topic to be broached.
"You have excellent taste, Marguerite. He is a fair catch," Marie finally said, earning a glare from Philip.
"You find him more fair of face than me?"
Marie laughed. "I think he is probably of the same temperament, too, isn't he?" she asked Marguerite.
Marguerite nodded, smiling. "Will you approve my marriage, cousin?"
"Do you really need it? You have your father's and Richard's approval. If I said 'no' you would just stay in England. You probably are going to stay there after you wed," he frowned. "Do you prefer Richard's kingdom to mine, cousin?"
"You haven't even told me if you approve of my fiancé, yet you are already deciding where we will live?" Marguerite raised an eyebrow. "I have no intentions of living solely in one place or the other. My only intention is to marry Guy."
"He is a traitor to his country."
"How does that affect you? He was fighting to overthrow the same man you yourself will soon be at war with."
"He failed to dispose Richard, then," Philip decided. "He worked to save Richard's throne, and because of that, Richard is still King of the English, and will soon be at war with me."
"So he is a traitor, yet he redeems himself, and both are blackmarks according to you? How is that a fair assessment? He has no love of Richard, he fought on my side because it was my side. He fought for me, cousin."
Philip sat in silence, contemplating as he stared at the roaring fire. Marguerite and Marie shared a look. "Cher, don't keep us in suspense. What is on your mind, my love?"
"War between Richard and I is inevitable, ma fae. Even as he sits here, his army is gathering and preparing to march on my castle in Anjou. I fear that the long anticipated battle between your two sides of the family is about to arrive. Which side will you chose, I wonder? What side will your fiancé aid."
"I can't speak for him, Philip. I won't put words into Guy's mouth."
"Not even to win my approval?" Philip smiled.
"You know me better than that," Marguerite reprimanded. "Don't deny me this, Philip. You know I work just as hard, that I'm just as loyal, to you as Richard. France is as much a part of me as England. I want your approval, I need to know you are okay with this marriage. You always championed for me, just as quickly as any of my brothers. You were always there for us, as one by one each was called away from this world."
"Marguerite..." he trailed off.
"You came home, Philip," Marguerite stood and moved to crouch down in front of her cousin. "You came home. After Christophe was murdered in Acre, you made peace and came home. You made sure Kazim brought him back to us. I was never able to express how much that meant to me…" Philip had returned to France, made her feel like she could stay in Paris, in his palace, forever in her attempts to hide from her grief. It had been a sanctuary, and she didn't know if he knew she appreciated that.
"When word reached us that Michel, Jacqueline, and Pierre died, I couldn't get home fast enough," Philip said, grasping her hand. "Guilt has a way of moving people faster than ships can carry them. I need to speak to Guy first, ma fae." He called for a servant and had Guy brought to them.
"Marguerite refuses to put words into your mouth; she can't, or won't, tell me how you will act," Philip said as he and Guy postured against each other. "A war is brewing between Richard and I. Your king is moving against me. A king you have just helped to put back on the throne. The king of your country. So I ask you, Guy, Duke of Sussex, where will your loyalty belong?"
"My loyalty is to Marguerite," Guy said without hesitation. "I will pick any battles or wars carefully, with Marguerite's advice. But I will not hesitate to move against anyone that threatens her."
a/n: Pardon my french (literally!) I tried to be accurate with my French but it's been awhile since I've taken it. I tried to use titles that existed at the time of Richard and Philip's reigns for the characters. FInally, Alix was a real person and was Eleanor's daughter with Philip's father, making her half sister to Richard and Philip in real life.